A new -- or is it old? -- manual for Mormons (OPEN)

Salt Lake Tribune ^ | December 31, 2009 | Peggy Fletcher Stack

[greyfoxx39]

A new -- or is it old? -- manual for Mormons

After a decade of going back to Brigham, back to Joseph and back to Wilford, Mormons are going back to basics.

Starting Sunday, adult Latter-day Saints will shelve their study of past Mormon prophets and return to fundamentals of their faith as spelled out in a 30-year-old book called Gospel Principles .

Twice a month, Mormon men in their priesthood meetings and women in their Relief Society sessions will consider a different chapter in the book, originally published in 1978, which discusses everything from the nature of God and Christ's atoning sacrifice to the need for baptism and temple rituals.

Until now, the book largely has been used as a primer for new converts to the 13.5 million-member Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

-SNIP-

One intriguing change, Witten says, is that all references to late apostle Bruce R. McConkie's quasi-authoritative book, Mormon Doctrine , have been excised.

"Quotes were updated to reference materials that are more accessible to members of the LDS Church worldwide," church spokeswoman Kim Farah explains. "For example, the series, Teachings of Presidents of the Church , is referenced because it is available in 28 languages, while Mormon Doctrine is only available in a few."

-SNIP-

"While the prophets we've studied have been great, there are several more I'd like to hear from."

On top of that, Evans doesn't see the revised Gospel Principles manual as "a cure for the problem of boredom, but maybe no manual can cure that."

[greyfoxx39]

Excommunicating McConkie, and more rewriting of mormon history it appears.

Apostle Bruce R. McConkie (1915 - 1985):

".the Book of Mormon remains secure, unchanged and unchangeable, ...But with the Bible it was not and is not so....it was once in the sole and exclusive care and custody of an abominable organization [Christianity], founded by the devil himself, likened prophetically unto a great whore, whose great aim and purpose was to destroy the souls of men in the name of religion. In these hands it ceased to be the book it once was."
-    Apostle Bruce R. McConkie, The Joseph Smith Translation, pp. 12, 13

“Believers in the doctrines of modern Christendom will reap damnation to their souls.”
-    Apostle Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, see pp. 45-46

“... all the millions of apostate Christendom have abased themselves before the mythical throne of a mythical Christ.... in large part the worship of apostate Christendom is performed in ignorance, as much so as was the worship of the Athenians who bowed the Unknown Gods.”
-    Apostle Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, pp. 269, 374-375

Elder Kenneth Johnson of the Seventy, who oversaw the revision of the manual, said in the Ensign , the church's official magazine. "They never grow old, and our understanding of them is increased and enhanced. The truth is not just an intellectual truth, but more of an understanding as the Spirit is present."

[greyfoxx39]

Ping

[reaganaut]

One intriguing change, Witten says, is that all references to late apostle Bruce R. McConkie’s quasi-authoritative book, Mormon Doctrine , have been excised.

- - - - - -
SOP. Take a previous book or work, edit it and then claim “it was never there” or “we don’t believe that”.

The revision of books and history is part of why I left. Protestants and Catholics can admit there are problems with their history, but the LDS never can.

[Elsiejay]

The young Mormon missionaries that come to front door in these latter days assure me that they believe exactly as I tell them that I (an elderly conservative Lutheran Christian) believe regarding the person, the divinity and the mission of Jesus Christ.
That being the case, I will tell the next such visitors that they need not concern themselves regarding the state or the fate of my soul.

[lurk]

Will the new book still include the part where you have to pay for your salvation, every bit of it, by your own works, but now Jesus is the kinder, gentler mortgage lender?

[ejonesie22]

“Prophets” ain’t what they used to be....

[Moltke]

Perhaps they need to read the certainly fictional, yet unencumbered-by-PC and likely influenced by common knowledge at that time (late 1800s) story by one Sir Arthur Conan Doyle ‘A Study in Scarlet’ sometime...;-)

[NoRedTape]

The mormon cult is like a stale cheese sandwich, without the cheese.

Anything Joe Smith might have said (before he was rightfully shot as an escapee from JAIL), ;......anything Joe or Bring'em said and made-up is all PUFF.

Any mormon with 2 brain cells would know that NOTHING from Joe can be archaeologically or anthropologically proven.
NOTHING; NADA;ZILCH;ZERO;bummer.

You can read all the truths on mormonism right HERE by hundreds of former mormon folk.

[Godzilla]

One intriguing change, Witten says, is that all references to late apostle Bruce R. McConkie’s quasi-authoritative book, Mormon Doctrine , have been excised.

These are not the droids you are looking for

[T Minus Four]

ping :-)

[ejonesie22]

[Sherman Logan]

Anything Joe Smith might have said (before he was rightfully shot as an escapee from JAIL)

I agree with you about the validity of Joe's message.

However, he didn't break OUT of jail, a mob broke IN to kill him. It was murder by any definition. Breaking the safe-conduct he was give by the governor of the state if he left the protection of his own rather large military force.

[Elsie]

MORMON 17

“I believe it. I believe it.”

[Elsie]

SOP. Take a previous book or work, edit it and then claim “it was never there” or “we don’t believe that”.

SOP. Take a previous book or work, edit it and then claim, "An Angel gave it to me". “It was never there” voiced by un-Believers is explained by, "The Angel took it away."

When asked just WHY they do NOT follow God's word in a NEW 'book' of the whole cloth, they explain, “We don’t believe that any more".

[Elsie]

Before a trial could be held, a mob of about 200 armed men, their faces painted black with wet gunpowder, stormed the jail in the late afternoon of June 27, 1844.

As the mob was approaching, the jailer became nervous, and informed Smith of the group.

In a letter dated July 10, 1844, one of the jailers wrote that Smith, expecting the Nauvoo Legion, said “Don’t trouble yourself ... they’ve come to rescue me.”

[Elsie]

That being the case, I will tell the next such visitors that they need not concern themselves regarding the state or the fate of my soul.

But; do you have concern for THEIR souls?

[NoRedTape]

"However, he didn't break OUT of jail, a mob broke IN to kill him".

Joe Smith had guns smuggled into the Nauvoo Prison and with his brother, attempted to escape. He was shot while attempting to escape.

Joe still needs to be charged with smuggling guns into a State Prison. That's a real no-no.

[Alan2]

Any mormon with 2 brain cells would know that NOTHING from Joe can be archaeologically or anthropologically proven. NOTHING; NADA;ZILCH;ZERO;bummer.

Ancient city discovered deep in Amazonian rainforest linked to the legendary white-skinned Cloud People of Peru By Daily Mail Reporter Last updated at 1:44 AM on 04th December 2008 A lost city discovered deep in the Amazon rainforest could unlock the secrets of a legendary tribe. Little is known about the Cloud People of Peru, an ancient, white-skinned civilisation wiped out by disease and war in the 16th century. But now archaeologists have uncovered a fortified citadel in a remote mountainous area of Peru known for its isolated natural beauty.

Any anti-mormon with 2 brain cells would know that SOMETHING from Joe can be archaeologically or anthropologically proven.

[Sherman Logan]

I understand you don’t like Mormons. I’m not too fond of the 19th century version of the faith myself, which is very different in practice from today’s.

However, your explanation does not fit the facts. It’s a rather desperate attempt to spin premeditated murder into something justified. It is unworthy of an intelligent person. There is plenty to criticize in early Mormonism without spreading lies.

Joe surrendered voluntarily, returning to IL on guarantee of safety by its governor to stand trial. He surrendered despite his being in control of an organized armed force of at least 2000 men. Pistols were smuggled in by friends for the prisoners’ defense.

The militia unit charged by the governor with his protection were in cahoots with the mob, 200 armed men with their faces disguised.

The mob started the shooting by firing through the door of the room in which the prisoners were being held. Hyrum was shot several times and killed. Joe shot and wounded several of the mob, then in desperation climbed out a window, was shot in the process, then was shot numerous times at close range while he lay helpless on the ground. One of the murderers attempted to decapitate him.

This was not “shot while attempting to escape” except in the most sarcastic sense of the term as is applied to captors who murder their prisoners.

[Godzilla]

Ancient city discovered deep in Amazonian rainforest linked to the legendary white-skinned Cloud People of Peru By Daily Mail Reporter Last updated at 1:44 AM on 04th December 2008

Excuse me, hebraic people are darker skinned and definitely not blond - as are reported in this 'story'.

Furthermore, the knowledge of the "cloud people" was known since the arrival of the spanish. Another city - Kulep - has also been known. No hebraic inscriptions, no hebraic DNA, no hebraic worship. . . . . no connection to the bom.

y anti-mormon with 2 brain cells would know that SOMETHING from Joe can be archaeologically or anthropologically proven.

No, actually any mormon who took time to actually investigate the issue. Hey even the vaunted BYU-Maxwell Inst (FARMS), does not include this as proof of the bom. Psst Nat'l geographic has written on it - no european artifacts or related materials.

Hence your "proof" is nothing but bogus material thrown out as a smoke screen.